Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Are home made gifts acceptable these days ?

63 replies

KurriKurri · 04/10/2019 15:21

I'm a bit out of touch, but often see threads on here where a lot of people consider home made gifts a bit naff so am garnering opinions.

A young couple I am friendly with are expecting their first baby after Christmas - I had thought I would knit the baby a cardigan/jumper/blanket, I am a good knitter, so it would be well made. Did you like hand knitted items for your baby or would you prefer if people bought things? (It's years since I had mine and I got lots of hand made things which I loved, but I realise times change !)
If your reaction would be 'Oh God what on earth is this ???' to home made, I shall go for soemthing from the shops. Grin

OP posts:
LuxuryWoman2018 · 04/10/2019 18:19

I loved all the knitted things I was given for my baby and so touched at the effort. The one or two things she never got around to wearing as well as the ones she did ended up being worn by a variety of teddies so all got used.

hyperkatinka · 04/10/2019 18:22

Cardigans or blankets are always a good idea, as long as it’s not hand wash only they’re a lovely idea.

Paddy1234 · 04/10/2019 18:24

One of the only things I have kept for my daughter is some embroidery a former boss did - it's lovely

SamBeckett · 04/10/2019 18:28

I still have a top that was knitted by my gran when I was about 10/ 12. It kept it's shape and colour dispite my DM never been able to get it off my back !

Katinski · 04/10/2019 18:30

Mum knitted sleeping bags for all of our children, two per child, zip up I think.Once the babies had outgrown them, she was able to unpick the bottoms to make dressing gowns! Brilliant!!

Original poster
KurriKurri · 04/10/2019 18:31

I feel reassured by all your kind comments - I love a home made gift personally, but I know people have different tastes. I'm looking forward to making it for them now, - I shall do a blanket I think as they will get use out of that for a bit longer.

OP posts:
SleepingStandingUp · 04/10/2019 18:33

Hand knitted is always welcome as long as you can knit and the wool is soft. I'm pregnant too if you want to knit lots 😂😂

Flopdoodle · 04/10/2019 18:35

I m using things that were knitted for my sibling 40years ago for my baby soon to be born... I think its a lovely idea and will be treasured. I have been made a blanket this time and a quilt with my first and was so touched at the effort x

Coffeeandchocolate9 · 04/10/2019 18:35

My mum has knitted and done quilts for babies and they've usually gone down really well. I say usually bevause just occasionally somebody shocks me and doesn't acknowledge they even received the gift (posted). The relatives who have done that have in all fairness been seen by other relatives who report that they see the item in use lots so still hopefully appreciated if not acknowledged. I would only do it for somebody who I thought would appreciate a handmade item. It's the extra time and love that goes into it that makes me all warm and gooey about it.

Ticklemeelmo · 04/10/2019 18:36

I have someone knitting things for my baby's arrival and think it's lovely and thoughtful. I can't knit or sew to save my life!

Kpo58 · 04/10/2019 18:37

If the to be parents don't wear jumpers in the winter, then don't make a cardigan. Some people find even the softest of wool as itchy as hell.

What about knitting a clanger? I'd have loved one of those.

MissBPotter · 04/10/2019 18:40

Love hand knitted stuff, especially for babies. Wish I could knit! I’m sure she will love it.

Some home made stuff can be a bit naff though, eg I received a bottle of wine covered in glitter.... not sure what the point of it was and was definitely not my taste!

IggyAce · 04/10/2019 18:45

My dd was the first baby born after my Nanna died, she was the knitter in the family and I was gutted that my dc wouldn’t have anything knitted by her. My lovely aunt had saved all the blankets she had knitted and crochet for her dd. So I used those and kept one that my dd loved.
The rest I returned to my aunt and they are now passed around the family when a new baby is due.

wildflowersandweeds · 04/10/2019 18:53

Someone knitted me a blanket that has holes for the car seat straps to go through- meant I could keep the baby wrapped in their nice blanket in the car and take them out without making them cold. I absolutely love it, and see they're starting to make the same thing commercially as it's such a clever idea!

Branster · 04/10/2019 18:54

Absolutely you should, it is a wonderful idea.
Maybe a blanket will be more useful and used more often(even better if you can discreetly find out the colour scheme of the nursery).
Clothes are also lovely but it’s difficult to get the right size and newborns get tons of clothes as gifts anyway.

Original poster
KurriKurri · 04/10/2019 19:03

I loved the Clangers Grin - I could make one of those.

I knit quite a lot of small toys because we have a charity thing in our area where the emergency services give little knitted toys to children when they attend an emergency as it can be very traumatic for the children and scary if police/ ambulance/fire come to the house.

I also do a lot of hats - we have a hats for homeless people table in our library where you can leave warm knitted things for homeless people in winter.

I just enjoy having something to do in the evenings when i watch TV - I'm not one for sitting quietly watching things - I've always got to be fiddling about with something Grin

OP posts:
Original poster
KurriKurri · 04/10/2019 19:08

Not sure about colour scheme for the nursery - another mutual friend is a graphic designer and she is doing a picture for the baby - and I know she has been trying to subtly get a bit more info, - but too subtly as she hasn't found out very much Grin

OP posts:
Rory786 · 04/10/2019 19:26

I have received many lovely items for my 3 little girls from my husband's patient. She was terminally ill as well which made it even more touching that she thought of our babies.

LtJudyHopps · 04/10/2019 20:04

My Nan makes blankets for babies in our family they are beautiful! She also has a pattern to make Father Christmas and mrs Claus (about as big as your forearm) - also a lovely present as they last!

StarlingsInSummer · 04/10/2019 20:06

I’d be delighted with a hand knitted blanket for a baby, it’s a lovely idea.

Adviceplease1234 · 04/10/2019 20:59

Absolutely lovely gift. My mum’s friend knitted a blanket for each of my children and it means so much that she spent the time making it.

drowningincustard · 04/10/2019 21:45

Look I love hand made stuff - and clearly many people posting on this thread do but can I add a word of warning as I think there might be a lot of confirmation bias going on here...
In real life I would say its probably more would not use hand made knits than those that would. Maybe its the area I live in - but there are many very design/image conscious women who would be polite enough to gush over it and then either regift or pop it away to be never seen again if the item isn't quite right
Please be direct and ask the lady if she would like something. Maybe have a few ideas saved in your phone to show her. Also the shades that a chosen lovely wool would come in. That way you know the gift is both wanted and likely to be used. A polite person would always accept the gift kindly - but its even better if they actually use it.

Original poster
KurriKurri · 04/10/2019 23:17

Thanks drowningincustard - for your directness - all comment is very welcome, and of course you are right about confirmation bias.
The drawback with asking the mum to be is that out of politeness she would most likely say yes whatever she felt - so I still wouldn;t really know - I could watch her face for signs of being horrorstruck though Grin

But what you say is food for thought, I would say that the couple in question is are not design/image conscious - we are all more the sort who wear jeans, woolly jumpers and desert boots. The parents are both scientists and like country walks, nature, animals etc. (just to try to give a picture of their life style). Also - I call them a young couple - they are young to me, but older in terms of being first time parents (late 30's)
I see the husband more than I see the wife, I could ask him but he is extremely polite and again probably wouldnt say. I could consult mutual friends and see what they think.

OP posts:
hyperkatinka · 05/10/2019 07:03

Sounds like you know your audience - it’s similar to reusable nappies, despite their popularity on mumsnet and social media, I couldn’t give ours away when the dc were done with them!

We didn’t sell the knitted items at the school fair - but it sounds like your friends will appreciate them.

DreamingofSunshine · 05/10/2019 07:22

@drowningincustard I know what you mean, I'm in several fb crochet groups and some of the stuff is hideous and not to my taste but I appreciate the work that's gone into it. I live in a trendy part of London and I'd never seen any of these designs in use! However, something quite simple gets used.

Now DS is a bit older I use the blankets for his toys or den building, so still used and appreciated.

Any homemade blankets I received that aren't to my taste I took a photo with the blanket and DS then donated to the women's refuge.

I gave my friend a scarf yesterday and she loved it, but I've been crocheting for about 5 years now and I've only just started to make gifts as they look good- even tension, no obvious mistakes etc. Some of my earlier attempts were awful!